Kelipe Centro de Arte Flamenco — Attraction in Málaga

So, here the review. 20th of July 2023, we went to this flamenco show. First, a small disclaimer - I am not exactly sure whether they have always the same people on - for us it was Antonio, Asucar, Jose, and Susanna. Expectations were moderately high after reading some previous reviews. I personally had almost no prior knowledge of flamenco, apart from being a traditional dance and song practice associated with gitanos. My companion, an ardent dancer, was also in the dark, So, initial uncertainty with regard to the theatrics. And then... no cliché of the type ´knocked our socks off´ could do any justice to the performace these four delivered. What would stay with me for the rest of my post-flamenco initiation life, however, was not the mesmerizing music and dance, but rather the passion of the group. A hackneyd word, used in all sorts of relentless, incoherent, and heart-wrenching marketing outpourings - your bank serves you with passion, the pan and utensils producer is passionate about food, etc., etc. We are all passionate to perform, deliver surplus, figure on the spreadsheets. Well, let me tell you something: Antonio, Asucar, Jose and Susanna were in fact passionate. It is almost like a bad joke about stereotypes, Andalusia, Gitanos and Spaniards. Those four did something rare - without any strings and safety, performing in front of a small, quasi-illiterate crowd (mostly tourists and, as previously noted, without previous knowledge of flamenco), those four not simply performed with heart and soul, they delivered all on the small stage. They served us heart and soul on a platter and we were in awe. This was one of the most life-afmirming experiences in my life (with my clothes on) - to see and feel sometimes their insecurity, to notice small technical imperfections, and to realize that all these are meager, fleeting shadows, overwhelmed completely by courage and zeal, washed in the light of human passion and aspiration. Man, could I cry and laugh, and talk about them throughout the evening (and the following evenings). And then cry again. Well, as far as reviews go - I can only recommend this show. We tried another one in Malaga, and we repeatedly told ourselves that there is not point in comparing the two... I know that I would now learn more about flamenco and want to see those four again. I hope my children can...

I watched different Flamenco shows, including several others in Malaga, but this is really different from the others. This is not a "show", this is a rollercoaster of different feelings; sensitivity, drama, joy, pride, pain... Therefore, in the end, as you are leaving the event hall, you will feel exhausted but very fulfilled. Big applause to the whole group. 👏👏👏The incredibly talented guitarist who plays the guitar almost like an extension of his body; the two strong voices, who not only sing but "live" the songs; and Susana, who deserves a special attention here: Ah Susana! Dear Susana! What have you done to us, Susana! You shot everyone on hearts with your steps, your sound, your art, your eyes, your face expressions, your passion. You were the driver of that rollercoaster. You are an absolute "ecole" in Flamenco. 🙏

Dani, the coordinator of the show. I didn't forget you, man. Muchas Gracias.

A little note to the future guests: Try to book at the front row to see the steps closely. It is really...

It's a small club and there's an intimate atmosphere at the show. We were there on a Wednesday and it wasn't fully booked (20-30 people). Nevertheless, the 4 artists performed with total dedication. A fantastic show! Especially during the last song, you could feel how much fun the artists had together on stage. You could clearly feel the passion for flamenco and the desire to perform. It seemed as if the dancer didn't want to stop dancing and so the last song was fired up again and again as it drew to a close. This small venue is run with a lot of heart. We had a very nice evening - thank you and another big round of applause.

By the way, the first drink is included for category A tickets, all others can buy drinks before the show starts (I couldn't see the prices). Nothing is sold during the performance to keep the attention on the stage. I recommend booking category A to be able to watch the dancer's...